Congo Crisis: M23 Rebels Advance to Bukavu as Museveni’s Son Threatens Attack on Another Town

Tensions escalate in the Democratic Republic of Congo as M23 rebels reach Bukavu, while Ugandan President Museveni’s son issues a warning of potential military action.

Tensions rose sharply in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, with M23 rebels—allegedly supported by Rwanda—moving closer to the outskirts of Bukavu. At the same time, Uganda’s top military commander issued a warning about attacking a Congolese town, increasing concerns that this conflict might evolve into a wider regional crisis.

Since capturing Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, at the end of last month, the rebel group has been steadily advancing south.

According to a spokesperson, a warehouse owned by the World Food Programme (WFP) in Bukavu was looted on Saturday. The facility had stored 6,800 metric tons of food supplies.

“The theft of supplies will exacerbate the challenges encountered by those in need,” stated WFP spokesperson Claude Kalinga, who mentioned that operations had already been halted because of persistent instability.

Residents reported sporadic gunfire overnight, attributing it to looters instead of direct combat.

Corneille Nangaa, the leader of a rebel coalition that includes M23, announced on Friday night that their forces had entered Bukavu and intended to expand their activities within the city. However, reports about their precise location were inconsistent. Some residents from Bagira, a northern suburb, confirmed spotting rebels in the streets. In contrast, others—including Congolese military officers—reported that the group had not yet made it to the city center.

A military source reported that Congolese troops were being pulled back from specific regions to avoid the type of “carnage” experienced in Goma, where an estimated 3,000 people lost their lives before the city fell, according to UN estimates.

On Saturday in Bukavu, eyewitnesses reported seeing Congolese soldiers set fire to an army weapons depot. This action was confirmed by several residents and a military official.

If Bukavu, a city with approximately two million residents, were to fall, it would represent a significant increase in the territorial control of M23. This development would further weaken Kinshasa’s authority in the resource-rich eastern region.

Meanwhile, Uganda’s military chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, used social media to issue an ultimatum: he threatened to attack Bunia unless “all forces” in the town surrendered their weapons within 24 hours.

The general, who is the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, has expressed concerns that the Great Lakes region might be on the verge of a larger conflict reminiscent of those in the 1990s and early 2000s which resulted in millions of deaths.

Starting in 2021, Uganda has been assisting the Congolese army in combating Islamist militants in eastern regions by deploying an extra 1,000 troops earlier this year. Despite these efforts, UN experts have accused Uganda of also supporting M23 rebels.

At a summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa on Saturday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged for revitalized discussions among all parties involved in conflicts. Although regional leaders have been advocating for face-to-face negotiations, President Félix Tshisekedi of Congo has continuously declined to interact with M23. Instead, he appointed his prime minister to represent the nation at the summit.

Tshisekedi came back to Kinshasa on Saturday morning after participating in the Munich Security Conference in Germany the day before.

Rwanda has consistently denied any support for M23, with President Paul Kagame reaffirming this position on social media by stating, “Rwanda is not involved in Congo’s problems.”

The United States has issued a warning about possible sanctions against officials in both Rwanda and Congo. Meanwhile, the European Union stated that it is evaluating all potential actions to protect Congo’s sovereignty.